By Patrick Tepoorten

The Minnesota Regional Coronerís Office has released findings related to the cause of death of Elijah R. Meyer, 14, of North Branch. Meyer died on the evening of Nov. 8, after he collapsed at North Branch High School following a wrestling practice.

The cause of death is listed as a ìapparent sudden cardiac death.î Minor abnormalities of the heart, such as myocardial bridge of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and interstitial lymphocytes near the atrioventricular node without myocyte injury, are listed as ìother significant conditions.î

Dr. Lindsey Thomas explained what those conditions are in a press release from Nov. 29. ìA myocardial bridge means that a portion of the coronary artery is in the heart muscle, rather than in the adipose tissue on the outside of the heart muscle, which is the normal location of coronary arteries. Its significance is unknown, although there have been reports of decreased blood flow through such vessels.

ìLymphocytes are inflammatory cells that can be seen in infections and autoimmune disorders. Myocytes are heart muscle cells. When there is myocyte injury associated with lymphocytes, that is known as myocarditis. The presence of lymphocytes without myocyte injury is suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, myocarditis.î

The statement concludes by relating Meyerís preexisting conditions with known results. ìThe atrioventricular node is one of the areas of the heart that controls the electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat. Deceased blood flow or inflammation in this area has been associated with sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia.î

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